If we had an honest media, one whose goal is to inform and educate, PBO’s approval would be 76% — see earlier discussion on TOD (by earlier, I mean more than a year ago) that there’s 24% of the population that would oppose this President if they were asked the question “Do you agree with President Obama that the sky is blue?” (Yes or No).

See Nena upthread re: MSM/Koch business model.

The MSM is delusional if they think they can win the public with their lies. Dems need to get a collective backbone and start promoting how MUCH BETTER OFF the country is than, say September 15, 2008 (Lehman brothers/financial apocalypse) instead of hedging their bets on the best President in at least 65 years.

I LOVE the editorial picture of Rosa Parks 1955 and President Obama 2008! Looking back on the history I lived through, that juxtaposition is truly revolutionary and amazing…….and is what drives the bigots absolutely out of their minds. It’s beautiful.

Sochi Olympics sounds like a shambles, with sometimes (very) humorous and unbelievable horror stories being told by reporters arriving from all over the world. Many hotels still under construction, assigned rooms still occupied by construction workers or stray dogs, sometimes no electricity, no heat, no TV, no wifi, no locks on doors, water is yellow and front desk warns not to put on face because it contains “dangerous” elements. Signs by toilets say to not put toilet paper in them. Richard Engle just said to leave all your phones and computers and devices at home because you will be immediately hacked—-just demonstrated the same—-do not expect any privacy in your rooms. The very non-funny part is that there is a “culling the herd” going on with all the stray doggies that are reported to be there. Who thought Sochi was a good idea? Big pay off?

You would think the IOC would go in first to each chosen venue and ensure sights are ready before allowing the word’s athletes, etc to start arriving! This sounds embarrassing, and coupled with the apprehension re physical safety, I wish Olympic associations from the different countries would reconsider the wisdom of attending.

Today for some reason I felt more discouraged. We truly do have a divided nation. It’s not partisan, its divided. Its between rational people and the insane. Its divided between thinking people vs people who wallow in their ignorance. Those who are courageous and willing to keep an open mind, and those constantly living in fear and lashing out.

Its really too much, the level of incompetence, ignorance, and bigotry within Republican Congress. It used to be that being a Congressman or Senator was a serious and respected role. Now any nut job can be a member of Congress, case in point Rand Paul & Ted Cruz.

To hear people like John Elway, saying they don’t believe in safety nets, to the 1% bitching to their therapists about how they feel “persecuted”. Its just too much.

There is NO UNITING with people that stupid and crazy. Before the tea-party, I did think the President had a chance to promote rational and less partisan behavior. But sadly, the GOP is too inbred with racism, so it’s not possible. For MSM and beltway pundits to keep hounding on “bi-partisan” is just pathetic. The notion of “fair and balance” requires equal airtime to the absolute idiotic like “birtherism” and using GOP Talking points as news, just continues to growing ignorance of many Americans and flames the fire of racism.

I honestly admire the President so much for keeping himself balanced and optimistic, against all the disrespect and downright stupidity of the people he is trying to help.

And I’m sick of all the Hillary Clinton 2016 talk. She’s a horrible leader, and her incompetence in managing her 2008 campaign is a harbinger of how she’ll govern. She’s always playing it safe and what’s good for Hillary. There’s no boldness or willingness to put herself out there.

I don’t want to bring everyone down, but I just needed to vent, and in something longer than 140 characters!

Lastly, was so sorry to hear of some in the TOD Community dealing with some serious health issues. My thoughts are with you all in spirit.

I hope you’re all doing well and really enjoy reading TOD when I get a chance, its a welcome break from my stressful life!

O44, I can understand your frustration, but always remember that Barack Obama was elected president twice with overwhelming majorities even as the same lies and bigotry were on full display in the media and the Republican Party. Lying has become routine in the media at a time when people, especially young ones, are tuning out traditional means of mass communication and finding things out on their own through social media. One of the main GOP and media goals is to wear us out and discourage us. Don’t let them win. We’ve learned to fight and win , so let’s keep on doing so.

Oh O44, please at least know you’re not alone. I’m with you on all of this, and throw in O’Reilly for good and disgusting measure. You’re not bringing anyone down – we all need to vent. Sooo many days, I’ve felt *this* is different, *this* is insurmountable, but then there’s that guy reminding me of that North Star and reminding me that none of this was ever going to be easy. Keep the faith and get a good night’s sleep, we’ve still got tomorrow : )

Health care and secure retirement, something that has been on the Dem agenda since FDR, but only ONE President is actually doing something about it.

Hard to believe that any American with a working brain (who is not a cruel, heartless, greedy SOB) could not LOVE our President. Those who aren’t SOB’s catch only the fragments of news that tell them that the least bit of negative news is Obama’s fault. Sigh.

For Obamacare critics, the law will force consumers to pay more for health care. The CBO found that the Affordable Care Act’s premiums are even better than originally projected.

For Obamacare critics, the law will cause the ranks of the uninsured to swell. The CBO found that the Affordable Care Act will bring coverage to 13 million Americans this year and 25 million Americans over the next two decades.

Conservatives who’ve spent the day urging Americans to look at the CBO report have inadvertently encouraged the public to review a document that supports the White House’s arguments.

Spokesperson Jay Carney briefed reporters and answered questions at the daily White House briefing. Jason Furman, the chairman of the White House Council of Economic Advisers, began the briefing with comments on the CBO’s report on the economy.

Sigh, I was positive Chips Chica had some free moments and was messing with a good thing! Now I guess I’m the only one being punished ….by WordPress? Firefox? Since I CAN read the comments as well as comment myself I won’t make a fuss and hope that it’ll be back to normal tomorrow.

One of my peripatetic patrons is back from Ghana. Wonderful lady, very ballsy. So ballsy, that she told me “Hilary better watch out.” Why? Because she plans to run for President in 2016 on the Green Party ticket.

Good lookin’ young lad. The Harvard Law Review sure had exquisite taste, didn’t it? Knew how to spot ‘em.
And thanks chips for the excellent posts today. I like when you’re here and hang with us. (my too often neglected belated merci beaucoup)

Awesome, awesome, did I same awesome? That is you Chips, and everyone on this site, I feel informed, knowledgeable cause all of you are so awesome, thank you for your service to the public. This President we have, President Barack Obama, is and has changed this country forever.

DF, for the first time in my life, I might be missing an Olympics as well.

Tomorrow, the UK’s Channel 4 will have a documentary on the plight of gays in Russia. From the preview I saw, it is horrific. And the fact that Sochi is nothing but a Potemkin village, and that every terrorist in the Caucasus is aiming at the town gives me a very bad feeling.

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh … take me with you in spirit isonprize, will you? Love him. One day I hope to ride a train with him; love trains, love him. That would be so romantic … no, Jill, not sexual, or yours and his romantic, just romantic. Joe Biden!

Congratulations, Isonprize! That’s great that you are meeting with Vice President, Joe biden. Where in philadelphia are you supposed to meet? Tell him we here love him, and hope he runs for President in 2016.

GE, TOD. I’m late to the party, but these live-tweets of journalists trying to get hotel rooms and the conditions are something else…..

“Some journalists arriving in Sochi are describing appalling conditions in the housing there, where only six of nine media hotels are ready for guests. Hotels are still under construction. Water, if it’s running, isn’t drinkable. One German photographer told the AP over the weekend that his hotel still had stray dogs and construction workers wandering in and out of rooms…….”

CNN booked 11 rooms in one @Sochi2014 media hotel five months ago. We have been here for a day and only one room is available. #cnnsochi

“The disarray seems to contradict repeated promises from both Russian and Olympic officials that Sochi is ready for the games, despite terrorist threats, unfinished construction and concerns over human rights abuses in the country. The Sochi Olympics have also run way over budget — to a record $51 billion-“

Hey, Chips! Thanks for asking……almost there. Will get my cast removed next week! On the downside we are getting 8-10″ tonight……so I will probably fall and break my other wrist getting the mail again :cool:

You should see the some of the tweets compiled in that article….My god! Some hotels don’t have lobbies, someone went to his room…the doorknob fell off, and these are designated “media” hotels :( At least in Qatar, the only thing anybody has to worry about is heat stroke? I digress……..

I think that WP writer copied me—-my comment here—not kidding—-saw my same phrases etc. But anyhoo—–loved the head of the Sochi Olympic Committee’s response to CNN complaining that only one room out of the 11 they reserved was available—–he told the CNN guy to turn around and enjoy the view of the mountains.

Corruption, corruption and corruption. Russia has a BIG mafia problem. Budget not respected, installations not ready, problems with the water, etc.. Looks like many crooks profited from the Olympics money, but didn’t deliver.

And to think this place won out over Salzburg, Austria! Amazing. There had to be money under the table for that. Salzburg has the infrastructure in place….plus the absolutely glorious mountains and scenery, and great accommodations…..the IOC must be totally nuts.

I think the athletes quarters may be the least of their problems, MP. The Snowboard half-pipe qualifier starts Thursday, before the opening ceremony, and the two top athletes are already injured. The guy from Norway, broke his collarbone-out for the Olympics, and Sean White, injured his wrist. The are having to redesign the whole course because it is to dangerous in 36 hours.

Good ol’ Sharyl Attkisson, doing what she always does—–misleading (lying) Remind me again why she is in the news biz and, better yet, why CBS would want this kind of person, with zero integrity, reporting for them.

Today @USCBO said 2M Americans will likely pass up full-time jobs because of Obamacare. @SharylAttkisson reports.

I heard she would be talking about this job lost due to Obamacare, and I turn the channel as fast as I could. I am not a fan of CBS, Scott Pelley, and that right wing mouth piece liar Sharyl Attkisson.

Unbelievable. The headline should be Obamacare Sets Workers Free. Free to explore their dreams and other job opportunities without being beholden to a particular employer because of healthcare insurance. The tables have turned, The employer no longer has the upper hand. And of course, this is totally unacceptable to the GOP.

I was thinking about POTUS and FLOTUS would be attending that Prayer Breakfast event Thursday. I was wondering if that Ben Carson will be there sucking up to those right wing haters by attacking POTUS.

Honestly….I am over these crooks, liars, cheaters and entitled people. I don’t care WHO they are or WHAT they do. They all need to GTFOH and leave the rest of us alone. I hope this gets dealt with….I’m sure Issa will get right on this one. Not.